Shakespeare Sonnet - 65

Sonnet 65, by the famous William Shakespeare, explores the fleeting nature of beauty, the unstoppable flow of time, and how art can outlast death.

The poem begins with a striking question,

"Since brass, nor stone, nor earth, nor boundless sea 

 But sad mortality o'ersways their might" (lines 1-2). 

Shakespeare laments that even the strongest materials are not immune to the ravages of time. "Brass" and "stone," as symbols of durability, eventually succumb to decay.

In the second quatrain, Shakespeare focuses on beauty, noting that "the fairest wights" (line 5) are also affected by these harsh realities. He points out that even the most stunning beauty will eventually "waste" and "decay" (line 6). This realisation prompts the speaker to consider how art can protect beauty.

The poem then shifts in the third quatrain, where Shakespeare asserts that art can triumph over time

"But thy eternal summer shall not fade 

 Nor lose possession of that fair thou owest" (lines 9-10). 

Through poetry, beauty can be preserved, resisting the effects of time.

In the final couplet, Shakespeare emphasizes his point

"Nor shall Death brag thou wand'rest in his shade, 

When in eternal lines to time thou growest" (lines 13-14). 

Art, especially poetry, allows beauty to rise above mortality, ensuring it remains even as the physical world declines.

Through Sonnet 65, Shakespeare skillfully addresses the human experience, confronting the certainty of loss while celebrating the powerful nature of art. This sonnet stands as a tribute to Shakespeare's own talent, which continues to captivate and inspire us even after many years.Bard himself skilfully enhanced the literary themes of English.To be frank there is no Lit in Literature without Shakespeare.